A coalition of veterans from across Pennsylvania, including current and former members of the state’s Congressional delegation, have come out in support of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s reelection campaign. Veterans for Casey includes more than two dozen veteran leaders.
“Our government has a sacred duty to care for my fellow veterans,” U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio D-17th District, said in a statement. Deluzio is a Navy veteran of the Iraq War. “Through his words and actions, Senator Bob Casey has shown time and time again that he will be there for us. Whether it’s defending VA healthcare and services, fighting veteran suicide and homelessness, and so much more, he’s been standing up for veterans.”
Casey has sponsored and supported several notable pieces of legislation that had an impact on veterans. He wrote the Senate version of the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, which raised the age that people with disabilities can qualify for special tax-advantaged savings accounts.
“Senator Casey wrote and passed the bipartisan ABLE Age Adjustment Act which will allow more than one million disabled veterans to save money without risking their federal disability benefits,” David Correll, an Army veteran from the Allentown area said in a statement. “This will change the lives of so many people who sacrificed for our country.”
Casey also was an outspoken supporter in 2022 of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which made it easier for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their time in the military to receive medical treatment through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
When a version of the legislation was stalled by 14 Republicans in the Senate, including then-Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, an angry Casey held a virtual press conference denouncing the move. “These veterans already fulfilled their promise,” Casey said during the Aug. 1, 2022 presser. “They were exposed to burn pits. We’ve got to provide them health care. If we don’t do this, what kind of a country are we?”
The Senate passed the legislation the next day, and President Joe Biden signed it into law on Aug. 10, 2022.
“To know Senator Casey is to know a true public servant’s heart, and that’s especially true when it comes to his relentless advocacy for veterans,” U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District, said in a statement. Houlahan is a retired Air Force captain. “He is one of the fiercest veteran advocates in Congress, expanding health care benefits, championing mental health initiatives and more.”
Other members of the more than two dozen veterans who joined the Veterans for Casey coalition include former members of Congress Patrick Murphy (Army), Conor Lamb (Marines), and Chris Carney (Navy).
Casey also co-sponsored the Honoring Purple Hearts Recipients Act, which would require the Department of Defense to include the names of Purple Heart recipients on its military awards website. The Purple Heart is awarded to service members injured or killed in the line of duty.
“It’s easy to talk about the importance of helping veterans, but so many politicians fail to use their power to truly fight for us,” Jack Inacker, an Air Force veteran from the Philadelphia area said in a statement. “Senator Casey has been a champion for veterans for almost two decades. He has fought to protect our health care, our benefits, and the resources so many in our community need.”
Casey launched his bid for a fourth term in the Senate in April, and raised more than $4 million in the second quarter. He has no official Republican opponent yet.
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Originally published at www.penncapital-star.com,by Kim Lyons
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